The History of Timekeeping - Why The Mechanical Watch Will Never Be Obsolete

[@ID-Guy]

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[@sophiasocal68]

I'm at the very beginning of a career change to professional watchmaker. I love discussions like this. The collision of art, engineering, expression, intelligence and precision equals horology. Very fascinating.

[@neilspector9221]

I have had smart watches and used them as my every day timepiece. I have found pros and cons for them. Pros would be the atomic clock level of accuracy and the ability to see them well at night. As I started traveling more often for work, I quickly became annoyed at having to charge them every other night and the constant distractions. Distractions like; it's time to stand up, it's time to breath, your heart rate is high, you have messages, notifications, email, you can still close your rings today. I realized that all of the aforementioned were slowly eating away at my sanity. Then I bought a quartz watch however it seemed cold and impersonal. Now I have discovered the joys of owning an automatic watch. The watches beauty and appreciating it being there on my wrist. The way that the second hand sweeps steadily reminds me that time is both infinite and finite and is something to be valued.

[@Wanted797]

You can turn all those features off. Some of them might be annoying but it depends if you see things about your health like standing as important.

[@chi-towncalifornia5916]

Your videos keep getting more and more philosophical and thought provoking, IDGuy. I love it. I’m going to go against the grain, and say that smart watches are great. I love my mechanical watches, that is for sure, but the smart watch is infinitely more functional for the given space it occupies on your body. In many ways, the smart watch is the ultimate tool watch. All that being said, however, the smart watch is an appliance, rather than a perennial piece of mechanics. I liken it to audio equipment. Apple Watch is a smartphone, which can access the world’s library of music. The luxury mechanical watch is a turn table with a vacuum tube amplifier, and wood encased speakers. One is infinitely more practical and ergonomic than the other, and yet the other evokes more emotions, and the very act of using it brings pleasure that the smartphone just seems to not deliver. In other words, while the smart watch is a far greater means to an end, the very fact that the mechanical watch is highly limited in its overall functionality makes the pleasure in its use and appreciation for its engineering the reward in itself. One is focused on the end result, the other on the trip there. For those who think traditional watches are useless, and that no one should own one, I would like to ask you all if you yourselves are only focused on the end result, or do you take the time to stop, ponder, and enjoy the journey there?

[@creepinwhileyousleepin]

I think you hit the nail on the head here. Anything that has a functional and artistic lifespan as long as a mechanical watch is infinitely more valuable than essentially disposable digital watches of today.

[@throwingdartsandbreakinghearts]

I bought a smart watch a few month ago. In a month I sold it. It was taking away time from my real watches.

[@HaasGrotesk]

So in other words you liked the smart watch more because you used it more?

[@tomasinacovell4293]

Yeah, but Rolex, SEIKO (to a far lessor degree), went out of their way to artificially cause independent watchmakers and availability spar parts dry up, Rolex is the worse when it comes to any support in fixing pre-990's watches, they will not stand behind anything.

[@emanuelestuder2885]

Smart watch don’t spark in me any felling or thrilling,to me they’re just cold piece of technology. I’m old style maybe..

[@user-nb8qu9zo2j]

Amen!

[@mrfaisaldean]

What a wonderful, and thought provoking, analysis. I agree with the conclusion. The mechanical has a wonder about it. Whether it be a watch, a musical box, or even a steam train, they all have a wonder about them. This romance is lost in the digital. Take care and keep wondering.

[@davidb5720]

Wow. What an insight. One of my favourite videos and you’ve managed to help me understand why I love proper watches! Thank you 👍

[@kanebisa]

Smart watches have never caught my eyes, and will never do! First of all, the maker (not the user) decides for how long you can use that watch! How do they do that? Well, though the built-in battery which can´t be replaced, we all know that the battery can only be recharged for a certain amount of times, it has a limit! So, it doesn´t matter how good care you take of the watch, once the recharge cycle has reached it´s limit, the watch dies inevitably and become a piece of junk. Then we have the software incompatibility. The F-91W (The one shown at 4:08) my dad geve me in 1991 as elementary school graduation present is still working, the first watch I bought for myself (Feb 2001) an Eco-Drive is still working (without any service or capacitor change). Why would I want a watch that has to be charged every single night? and becomes a piece of junk once the battery is no longer rechargeable after 2 years?

[@chrismelidoniotis9336]

Great video. I love the philosophical, cultural and emotional insights you provide to your reviews and comments.

[@ChrisBeckman]

I have often THOUGHT the exact same thing about smart watches but could not put the sentiments into the WORDS and EXAMPLES demonstrated that you have.... beautifully stated!

[@shaverray4462]

An intellectually satisfying, lyrical piece of advocacy for the mechanical timepiece. Great content.

[@Zotrax1946]

I’m shocked there are only 94 comments 😳. This topic should have raised much more discussion… Me personally, I adore and admire the mechanical watch.

[@johnlopez1798]

That's true watches used to just tell time but over the years the time watch was able to do things

[@BoogurTWang]

The first 5 minutes is a classic piece. Well Done.

[@garyggarner7738]

Awesome Video and History. While I Love Technology, and many of my colleagues have gone for smart watches. I love my IPhone Have it for “technology”. However, I like my collection of different watches. I can wear a different one every day. I have solar and Eco drive watches. This time of year, I pull out one of my favorite watches to change the battery. It’s a Bulova Accutron 214 14 kt Gold Cushion case and a beautiful timepiece. The Accutron was my first Expensive Watch and I still love it. I have many mechanicals in my collection. And Quartz. Casios, Citizens, Seikos, and others. I have several manual wind movements including a Hamilton Chronograph I love. I have a couple of skeletons so I can show my granddaughters, great nieces, great nephews how and what watches were made of and how we use to regulate to tell time. Accuracy has improved. I like Seiko’s new Spring drive but haven’t purchased one. I enjoy your videos - keep making them!

[@vaughanatkinson8421]

Very well presented as always. Mechanical we connect with, we give it power and life, we love it's beauty and the sheer brilliance of the workmanship. If you look at today's watches why do so many brands reproduce lines from 30 or 40 years past, with so few adjustments. It's that connection that is missing from Quartz..it is just a piece of technology waiting to be made redundant and confined to the scrap heap by the next inevitable innovation! One other thing in this throw away world we live in is that I would definitely argue mechanical corner for its green qualifications over quartz..its in a different class! I will hopefully pass my watches on to my son for him to hand wind and learn that connection along with a loom so he can marvel at the movement inside that display back, and maybe spark his horological romance!

[@HaasGrotesk]

Yeah, you'll also pass on an inaccurate watch. I don't know why so many watch snobs think a mechanical watch will tick forever. I always hear the argument "I don't have to change the battery on my watch". No you don't. But you have to send it in for maintenance every 3-5 years with a hefty fee of at least $1000 if it's a "high end" watch. Most of my watches are solar powered and I don't have to change the battery for at least 20 years. And when I do it's a $20 quick job. I'm not going to even start about the accuracy differences.

[@vaughanatkinson8421]

@@HaasGrotesk then why view channels that cover mechanical watches?? Each to their own I suppose, but just because you do not agree is not the basis for rubbishing mechanical absolutely! Perhaps you would forget to wind one if you had one lol. You keep yours, as I know mine will still be working in another hundred years, yours I doubt will....just added to the ever growing junk heap in todays throwaway society!

[@LS98]

Excellent analysis! As someone who has his feet firmly planted in both camps (Apple Watch & Mechanical Watches), I feel that both can be beautiful. The Apple Watch has a clean industrial design, but it can’t match the higher level of beauty or craftsmanship that goes into a mechanical watch. On the smart watch side, the Apple Watch design is becoming iconic, but will it stand the test of time? I really enjoy hearing the perspective from a designer’s view.

[@study0159]

Very good organized thoughts. You may deserve more followers.

[@mt24Carson]

In a zombie apocalypse or EMP event which could render modern technology "obsolete", one will be relieved to know that either a mechanical or quartz watch will help see them through to the other side.... ⌚👍🌞🌙

[@anthonyshillingford848]

A significant EMP "event" would give your Mechanical and Quartz watch a bad day as well. In fact, if it was strong enough, it would fry you as well......

[@blueshirtbuddah1665]

Brilliant video! Couldn’t agree with you more!

[@christophers.villaraza2841]

Highly informative.

[@7007matthew]

It does NOT beg the question. It RAISES the question. Begging the question is a logical fallacy where the truth of an argument's conclusion is assumed in the premise.

[@roblockstock]

Nothing beats a wrist watch be it automatic or hand wound ;).

[@mgmmaze]

Great vid! I understand when people say you don't need a watch you have a phone. While that is true I didn't have my first cell phone till I was 23 had a watch most of my life my instinct is to look at my wrist. Hell I have even cause myself looking at my wrist with my phone in hand 😂

[@TonyNL87]

I love smartphones and computers. Grew up with them with the old NES and everything. But yesterday I got myself a mechanical automatic skeleton watch!!! Why? Computers make your life a lot more easy but there is one thing a computer will never be.... Art!!! Yes.. as an achievement computer technology is art... But for the looks and the time and soul that is put into it.... No... a smartwatch is not art. That's why I bought myself an automatic skeleton watch... So I can see the beating heart and everything that makes the watch run. All the little springs and gears! Just amazing that this technology is pretty old but still has that wow factor when you can see all the parts running. And if we lose electronic technology for some reason... No more batteries..... a mechinal watch will still run. And if people even then learn to make watches we will never lose track of time! No EMP can destroy a mechanical watch.. computers and smartwatches are all gone when a huge EMP hits.

[@syndicatedsatellite7288]

I'm currently developing and designing an advanced watch... It consists of a microchip inserted into one's body to enable them to tell time through their eyeballs and or dictated though their hearing.. Whatever method they choose, or both at the same time.

[@neilpiper9889]

I have a smart watch in my smartphone. Radio time controlled for accuracy. I can set my mechanical watch by that. I am watching this on my Huawei p10 plus wearing my 1973 Sea-gull St5 powered hand wound watch. Acrylic crystal 19 jewels and accurate too +10 seconds a day. I always keep my watches on the plus side. Easier to backwind hack. 2 wonderful Chinese products which I really love. Jinhao 992 chinese fountain pen in my shirt pocket. Another obsolete product the some people still love. No throw away biros for me, and no watch batteries go in land fill from my house.

[@eusupporter8438]

To discover your Channel made my day. 👍

[@carssv]

Masterpiece video, again… As the time pases and I have more perspective I feel the necessity to recognize the ingenuity of the human being. I make that connection everyday wearing mechanical watches and using letterpress business cards composed with Linotype, by the way I highly recommend Linotype:The Film.

[@Trex100]

A very interesting and logical presentation. You also narrate really well. I was not aware of the huge roll water played in the development. You use the term “begging the question “ often, and in a non-standard way but I can forgive you for that.

[@shaneschambach932]

Great video! 👌Thank you.

[@systiom]

Great video is making me think 🤔

[@derekshearer9049]

Lose power for a few days, the smart watch get dumb very fast. I like owning something that dosn't require a charge or a battery. Cheers

[@HaasGrotesk]

I like owning something that doesn't require a $1000 maintenance fee every 3-5 years. I rather change my tiny small cell battery.

[@derekshearer9049]

@@HaasGrotesk. Who said three to five years. Highbeat chronograph maybe. Otherwise ten plus years. Some battery changes can cost 500 dollars. Let's talk after the zombie apocalypse...... Lol

[@HaasGrotesk]

@@derekshearer9049 Yeah, the first 10 years. After that it's 3-5 or even more often. Never heard of $500 battery change but 99.99% of watches barely a $20. Most of my watches are solar so no battery change at all. Also my worst watch beats your best in accuracy and material. Zoombie apocalypse seems very realistic.

[@derekshearer9049]

@@HaasGrotesk. What watch do you own requires service every couple of years. Yes most quartz are inexpensive to have the battery changed. Others are more expensive like a PP Nautilus. If you need to service a watch more frequently than 8 years they are not doing properly or the watch is a lemon.... sell it

[@HaasGrotesk]

@@derekshearer9049 ​ Haha I'm sorry but most watch companies recommend you service your watch 3-5 years. That's Rolex, Omega, Patek and every other "High end" watch company. The higher end watch the more often you need to service it. Older vintage watches made before 1980 needs a service almost every year in order to be accurate. That's the problem with watch snobs that think their mechanical/automatic watches are invincible. They are far from it! Most of the snobs talk about the watch working "forever" and that "they don't have to change a battery" but they either forget to mention the service required or in some cases like yourself don't seem to know to what extent a mechanical watch needs to be serviced. Yes! The watch. may still work but its accuracy will be far from acceptable. I've seen vintage Rolex going 15min slow AN HOUR! They haven't been serviced properly. I'll stick to my solars. The sun will still shine during a zombie apocalypse but a service center won't! HAHA!

[@mikeontherock]

Brilliantly put. I love all sorts of tech especially in the form of watches and photographic equipment. I have yet to purchase my first smartwatch and it will happen soon however it would sit in parallel with my other watches. I agree with your conclusions and I suspect that we will see some interesting takes over the next decade as different schools of thought will engage in experimental marriages of the two sides of this spectrum.

[@jarischolman3949]

This video is very well done man. Could you do a design video about the JLC Reverso? I'd really like to see that happen.

[@atioivangalvezgjordan8511]

The art of watch , true puedes of history , that reminds us that we are part of it..

[@doubletee5250]

A smartwatch is disposable. A consumable product, that lasts a year or two. A quality mechanical watch is an heirloom to be passed through the generations.

[@MsLee-oh7hy]

Yes. I am looking to buy a quality mechanical ⚙️ watch for my boyfriend.

[@barryvercueil2346]

Phenomenal video. Wow!!!!

[@jeffreyblue627]

Bravo!

[@jcrobles63]

Here is an alternate definition of Time: TIME is a mental construct we humans use to measure CHANGE.

[@vaughanatkinson8421]

And just to explain further the green credentials of mechanical. The mining of Quartz and environmental plus human exploitation of cheap labour. The same for the battery components and further for the recycling or lack of of the materials. The outsourcing of manufacture, usually to the cheapest labour providing country. Whereas mechanical virtually completely recyclable, long life term as easy to repair and of course if higher end capable of being handed down. Manufacture employs Artisnal skills that should and need to be preserved...its just something I feel needs to be addressed, I know which lights my candle and the reasons!

[@felix3717]

Great work!

[@ivermec-tin666]

I don't trust anything or anyone that has the temerity to self identify as "smart". Sun Tzu would never wear a "smart" watch. As far as I am concerned, the solar powered radio synchronized Casio G-Shock IS the "smart" watch. It will run with astonishing accuracy and no maintenance for decades. Apple sells disposable eye candy, over engineered, fragile, expensive, and anything but rugged. The G-Shock is what the troops currently wear on the battlefield. It is the apex of development of the field watch. Mechanical watches are delightful and endearing things. They have heartbeats, and require care. There is something to be said for this, if you can live with the relative inaccuracy, and vulnerability to shock damage to the movement (not practically an issue unless you operate a jackhammer or automatic weaponry).

[@TheFPF422]

First Name Last Name though I agree on many points, a quartz watch depends on a battery and you never know when it will fail... an automatic, on the other hand will give time as long as you move... it will even give time for some time after you have stopped moving for good... For me that’s the one I will always chose over a quartz one...

[@TheFPF422]

First Name Last Name and i’ve used automatic weaponery (FNC) with an automatic watch... so much sont hat despite my gloves the barrel cover was too hot to hold... and no problems with my watch

[@ivermec-tin666]

@@TheFPF422 Well, that is a real world testament. Yes, batteries fail eventually. That is why Citizen uses capacitors instead. They have a much longer service life. Either way, solar driven quartz or automatic mechanical you are probably looking at a 20 year service interval. I absolutely prefer an analog display. And, yes after the emp blast your automatic mechanical is still going to function, if it isn't magnetized, but the quartz probably will not. I think I might actually prefer a hand winding mechanical field watch to keep track of the time while the zombies track me down for my delicious brain. I hope their hearing is not accute enough to track the ticking of the escapement. Time will tell, so to speak.

[@georgechau6800]

People who use smart watches are definitely not in the same camp as those who use mechanical/automatic watches. I have known a few people with smart watches and they are bought for their functionality, they are precise, people use them to track their steps, as GPS, as a compass, etc. On the other hand, lovers of mechanical/automatic watches buy them for aesthetic reasons. It's the same reason anyone would buy vinyl records vs CD's or digital downloads.

[@weerobot]

No...Smart watches have life spand of 1yr at most...

[@leath25]

The pocket watch was phased out because people got fed up of taking it out of their pocket and putting it back. Now the phone has taken it's place .the ease of turning your wrist over to see the time is why watches will never die.

[@kapilsethia9284]

Nostalgia will keep them for sometime but eventually economics will give it a death blow. Some antique may remain.

[@Kyfordman1989]

I prefer a mechanical watch it’s alive. It moves it uses energy. It feels better on the wrist. It has substance and it looks so much better than the I watch.

[@theemersonexperience7282]

Both the Navitimer and the Sub are superior designs to the Apple Watch, as far as I am concerned.

[@jannikl.9657]

Very nice Video, I personal will never buy a Smartwatch because of the Black of Art

[@RobotProctor]

Mechanical timekeeping is indistinguishable from magic

[@theninjaman]

Simple answer to your question no mechanical watches are not obsolete

[@rickyls2]

That was like poetry. Thank you.

[@scottsj4625]

I never had a smartwatch. They will go out of date in a few years. Something else to plug in to charge and when the battery fails and if it can't be changed, it goes in the trash. I also like sleeping with a lightweight watch so I can see the time at night.

[@okihaveaname]

8:10 Software and bandwidth updates continuslly kill smartwatches. The business model is built for you to REBUY, not enjoy.

[@robertnorth1681]

Vehicles like watches, are a combination of engineering and design. But with the changes to propulsion systems coming quickly, will powertrain engineers soon be a dying breed, like fish mongers, type setters and buggy whip makers.

[@elmongopepe]

but the mayans had a more precise calendar...

[@TheBadGuy1974]

Time isn't constant time as humans use it tracks the sun around the earth.

[@TheRealBrook1968]

In 1924, would you prefer to set aside 1 oz of gold or a bank note of $20 for your grandchildren in 2024. Wealth is not measured in functional ability alone.

[@phoenix5054]

It’s okay. I can buy 15 smartwatches in a lifetime for the price of an inaccurate, low-feature mechanical watch. Mechanical watches are not “real watches” anyway given they are merely overpriced bracelets for the status-obsessed technophobes. And my smartwatch (Galaxy Watch) has lasted me 4 years so far and still going on!

[@ResetToZero3210]

More functions in a watch, less you use them…

[@tomasinacovell4293]

Yeah, but Rolex, SEIKO (to a far lessor degree), went out of their way to artificially cause independent watchmakers and availability spar parts to all dry up, Rolex is the worse when it comes to any support in fixing pre-1990's watches, they will not stand behind anything and will give you nothing but grief for wanting anything.

[@krishnakumarraman1587]

Watch means mechanical, pure mechanical; smart watch is not a watch but an electronic gadget, an E-Waste.

[@FANTOllVll]

Havent finished the video but already have my answer. Absolutely not. Mechanical watches are art, they captivate the eye, and your attention in ways smart watches cannot. Mechanical watches will never go out of style because they can change into any era and theres a watch to match any style and any color. Smart watches are essentially toys, cool but will go out of style eventually.

[@japd7897]

Hublot Smart Watch (Soccer world cup edition) was a scam, 5.200 $ :0

[@Matthews_Media]

Are you South African?

[@danr1920]

Of course the mechanical watch is obsolete. That has nothing to do if people want them, because a lot do. (Me). I also have a radio controlled watch and a Casio quartz that I wear when I shouldn't wear a watch. My favorite watch I own is a 100 year old railroad grade pocket watch. Rolex has nothing on this watch in term of accuracy and workmanship. Very obsolete.

[@marksmadhousemetaphysicalm2938]

A Smart watch isn't a genuine watch...its a wearable computer...🤷‍♂️ the only real watch...is the mechanical watch...there is something about a mechanical watch that harkens back to a simple time...I don't know, but to me...I do appreciate both devices...but they are not interchangeable...

[@marekeos]

In my humble and worthless opinion, I just don't know why the Apple Watch is called a "watch". It's a miniaturized tablet strapped around your wrist. Sure, it can keep accurate time, but a watch it is not.

[@johnfadds6089]

Mechanical watches aren't "art". Art is something unique, like a painting, not mass manufactured. A custom made watch could be considered art, but few people in the world own something like that.

[@kapilsethia9284]

How about a piece of music or movie that is unique but mass produced?

[@phoenix5054]

@@kapilsethia9284 In that vein, smartwatches are also art, despite the consensus of dinosaurs around that they are merely “cold technology” or “wearable computers”.

[@LisaSimpsonLiberal]

Just a terrible video. Sorry for everyone who watched.

[@salbriganti4880]

buy a microphone

[@hjander]

Bravo!